Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-03

with the evils the society is combating and
THE REAL NATURE OF THE CONFLICT.
There exist in our country, as in all others.
social grievances which are grave and mem
| acng; public injustices which alike require
firm resistance and legal remedes-all OF
which none would gainsay, and the truth of
which has already been admitted by
congress and the president of tho
United States. Without entering into
the painful details Of these wrongs.-th0
present occasion not requiring tit will suf.
flee to mention the fact that monopoles, noN
only by individuals, but corporations also.
have already excited complaints from tho
workingman ana opposition from public
men and nationa! Legislators as well that
the efforts of these monopolists, not al
ways unsuccessful, to control legislation for
their own profit, cause great deal
OF anxiety to the disntercsted friends of lib
etty; that their heartcSs avaricc-which to
increase their revenues ruthlcsSly cruShps
not only the Worklngmcn representing the
various trades, but even the women and tho
young children in their cmploy-makes IL
plain to all who love humanity and Justice
that not only the workingman has n right
to organize for his own protection, but that
1t Is the duty of the public at large to aid
them in hnding a remedy against the dangers
with which civilization and the social order
are menaccd by avarice, oppression and cor
ruption.
No one could truthfully deny the right of
legitimate resistance, and the necessity for
remedy. The most that we could do would
be no doubt the legitimacy of the means of
resistance employed, and of the remedies
applied by the Knights of Labor. In the fol-
lowing, then, will be the next point of our
examination:
THE METHODS OF THE KNIGHTS
g. 1t can scarcely be doubted that the form
ing of associations and organ iZations of tho
parties interested Is the best means of attain
ing public object of any knd-the most
natural and elcacious. This is so evident,
and besides so much in accord with the spirit
OF our country ana OF society in general, so
essentially popular. that we need not dwell
upon the fact. 1t is, we might say, the only
means by which public attention can
be attracted toward the end desired to
be attained, by which force can be given to
the most leg Innate resistance, weight to the
most just demands. There exists an organ-
zaton which presents a thousand attractions,
thousand advantages. but which our Cath
Oic toilers, with tilial submission, refuse to
accept. 1t Is the Masonic organization, which
spreads all over our country, which, as Mr..
o"uSiiy SNiiiNi'iN oag uhitNo thS VihpiogCA
and employe in q fraternity which is very
advantageous to the latter. but which has
scarcely one Catholic in its ranks.
DON'T BE UN-AMERlCAN.
The cardinal then rings some changes on
the favorite Catholic theme-the danger of
the Masonic brotherhood next he passed
to point which will appeal more directly 10
the average feeling of Americans. lie
makes stirring appeal to the
church to beware of getting herself
branded as "unAmerican," and in terms
which, even through the imperfect medium
OF Indifferent French, are eloquent, reminds
the propaganda that the greatest and grand
est title of the church to the affections love
and devotion OF Americans lies in her being,
above all this, 'the friend of the people,"
Various considerations, more or less of
ecclesiastical interest followed, some "a trhe
redundant, and then the cardinal closed.
TIE SUMMING UP.
To sum up, it seems to me plain that tn
holy sec cannot entertain the proposal to
condemn the associations:
l. Because such a condemnation does not
appear to be justified either by the spirit of
its constitution, of its laws, orby the declar9.
tions of its heads.
2 That such condemnation does not ap-
pear necessary in view of the transient form
of the organization and of the social condi-
ton of the United States.
g. That it would not be prudent on ac-
count of the reality of the wrongs Of the
workngman, and the fact that the existence
of such is allowed by the American public.
a. That it would be dangerous to the repu-
tatOn OF the church in our democratic
country.
g. That IL would be pOWprlesS to cOmnel
the obedience of our Catholic wOrkingmen,
who would regard it as false and niqutous.
G. That it would be destructive instead of
beneficial in its effects, forcing the sons Of
the church to rebel against their mothers and
to range themselves with condemned socie-
ties which they have hitherto avoided.
z. That it would be ruinOus to the finan'
cial support of the church and to the raising
of Peters pence.
s. That it would turn into doubt and hos
tility the marked devotion of her people to
the holy see
o. That it would be regarded as crue
blow to the authority of the bishops of the
United States, who, it Is well known, protest
against such a condemnation.
i trust that the considerations here pre-
sented have shown NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. such
would be the results of the condemnation of
the Knights of Labor of the United States.
Therefore, | leave their cause with full
confidence in the wisdom and prudence Of
your eminence and Of the holy see.
j. CARD GIBBONS
Archbishop of Baltimore.
ROME, Feb, 20, 1887.
The Knights Rcjoiced.
New YORK, March 2.-Cardinal Gibbons
Al. 4